Lawn shears



T- J. CAVES Aug. 15, 1950 LAWN SHEARS- Filed July 22, 1948 LEI-Q1? 26 INV EN TOR.

THOMAS J. CAVES Patented Aug. 15, 1950 UNITED" STATES PATENT oFFIe LAWNSHEARS Thomas J Caves, Dearborn, Mich. Application July 22, 1948, SerialNo. 40,131

. 2 Claims, (01. l e-4241) The present invention relates to lawn shearswhich are particularly adapted for cutting grass, weeds, and the like.

The principal object of the present invention is toprovide lawn shearsadapted for cutting weeds or grass near walls or other obstructions,said shears comprising a fixed blade and a pivotally mounted movableblade wherein the movable blade is so arranged with its activating meansas to eliminate to a great extent, the sticking together or binding ofthe blades which is a source of annoyance in most lawn shearconstructions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide lawn shears whichare convenient to use and which are economical to I manufacture by massproduction methods.

A' further object of the present invention is to provide lawn shears foruse while standing erect which are easily used and function well in atilted position.

Other objects "of this invention will appear in the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Rig. l is a side elevation of the lawn shears of thepresent'invention-with part of the handle member and grip broken away toconserve space.

- Fig 2 is a plan view taken along the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

The lawn shears of the present invention include a tubular handle memberIll slightly bent at the upper end and equipped with a rubber grip l I.At the lower end of the handle member It], a housing member I2 isprovided which extends downwardly below the handle member ID and whichalso extends upwardly inside the handle member ID. The top of thehousing I2 is provided with inturned lugs l3 which form a seat for theupper end of a compression spring M. The lower end of the spring I4 isseated on top of two vertical rigidbrackets l5 and I6 which are fastenedtogether within the housing l2 by the rivets 29 and 30. The housing i2is composed of two opposed stampi'ngs held together by the rivets H. Therearportion of said housing I2 is attached pivotally to one end of anactivating lever I8. The activating lever i8 is a bell crank type leverwith one end bent and extending at right angles to the plane of movementof the lever to form an arcuate flange I8A. Said flange V the bracket I5andthe ground contacting mem- I The ground 2 r I 8A is provided with aangles to theplane of movement of the activating lever I8 toaccommodatetherivetor movable shear lug I9 which is aflixed to themovable shear blade 29. The activating lever I8 is pivotally securedbetween the brackets l5 and I6 by the rivet 28. The portion of the lug59 extending above the movable shear blade 20 is formed in the shape ofa truncated cone.

- A fixed shear blade 2| is held rigidly between her 22 by means of therivet 23. contacting member 22 is also secured on one side to the fixedblade 2 by the rivet 21. Theground contacting member 22, fixed blade 2|,bracket [5, and movable shear blade 20 have a lever l8, a relationshipexists which eliminates most of the cause of blade binding or stickingwhich is experienced in lawn shears of the type of the presentinvention. As the activating lever moves through a downward and forwardarc, the lug l9 and consequently the movable blade 29 is moved pivotallyaround the bolt 24. This action of the lug la in the slot of theactivating lever I8 is comparable to a meshed gear action, and since thelug I9 is tapered, friction is reduced so that there is no tendency forthe movable blade 20 to stick in the closed position.

To operate the device of the present invention, assuming the downwardlyexerted force on the handle member I8 has been released and the movableshear blade 20 and activating lever 18 are in the position indicated bythe broken lines, the ground contacting plate 22 is placed on theground, and a force is exerted downward on the handle member Hi andtransmitted to the housing l2 which is fitted within the said handlemember Ill. The ground surface provides a reaction force against theground contacting plate 22, and the tubular handle member I 0 andhousing l2 slide vertically downward along the pair of vertical rigidbrackets l5 and I6 thus compressing the spring M. This downward force isalso transmitted through the housing l2 to the 5101; which lies at rightbell crank lever 18 and the lever pivots about the rivet 28. The lug I9secured to the movable blade 20, and which fits into the end of theactivating lever 18, at the same time effects the pivotal movement ofthe movable shear blade 29 about the central pivot bolt 24. This actioncauses the movable shear blade 26 to pivot toward the cutting edge ofthe fixed shear blade 2|. The desiredscutting action is providedwhen thecutting edgeof: the 'movable blade (Wis .illlOVGd'. across the cuttingedge of the fixed blade 2 I.

Upon removing the downward force from the handle member H), the springl4 returns to its" initial position thus forcing the housing IZhndiIhandle member In vertically upward sto their original positions. Thehousing [2 "israisdfth bell crank lever I8 is pivotedabontrvtlieirivetflE in; the opposite direction, the shear lug l9..movesbackward, and the movable shear blade is pivoted away from the fliedshear blade 2 l. The reaigeportions 'oi th' blades are" slightly 'bent130 A foi'm 'stdp's'whi'ch' are i-n' 'contact wherr-thbla'des ardent-theinoperativeer open position.

Irifoiminigtli ground contacting fobt member witli*tlie ribs'ifii addedstrengtl'iiis provideda Also,:"-: siriceth-fohtmemberfl Zis arcuatettheshears will functions*equally i well 'when tiltedforward or backwam as'wheir used in a vertical- 'position. Having thus described myinventibm'I claim? li Ljwn shars 'eom-prisinga ground contacting plateja revertically disposed rigid=brackt-inember' secm'ed at itslowerend-tosaid-gro1md contacting plate}. a blade e secured betweensaid-' ground contactiiigeplatdandtaid "bracket member; a e movablebladepivotally mounted F be tweerr said *ground contactitig plate (and-"said bracket member for pivbtah'rnovement withre" spect' to 'said-fiied bla dey said rnovable -blade havirfg ia lu g 'in tli fo rm 'ofa=trim'cated-cone extendi gvertically upwardthrefrom and spaced fromntlfepoint ofpivotal' zmovementx meme-a mousing mounted-abouttheup per end ofsaiii braekt' member and vertically -movabl'e' relative thereto, a coilspring seated atits one end onsaidbracket member and at its other endirfsaid hdusirig for' bia'sing said 'housin g vertically upwardf'ahandlesecured to said 'housin g and-extehd-i'rrg' *vert-ically ;upwardth'ref rom for mov-" ing said housing-vertically downward in opposi-'titi'n to" said coil springya bell 'cranklevenpivot-' allyconrie'ctellale=its* fulcrum" "to' said bracket' m'embnformovem'entiii-a vertical-plane-,-"a force 4 o applying member rigidly secured tosaid housing, one arm of said bell crank lever being pivotally connectedto said [force applying member, the other arm of said bell crank leverhaving a slot therein for receiving said lug, said bell crank lever,force applying member and lug being so constructed and arranged thatsaid one arm will be substantially normal to the path of verticalmovement oLsaid force, applying member and saidother arm :wil'lbesubstantiallyiinormal' to the path of movement of said lug duringclosing and opening of said lawn shears.

2. In a lawn shears, a vertically disposed rigid bracket member, a fixedblade rigidly secured to ,thelower end .of said bracket member, amovable lei/mezpiyntaliy: connected.\ at-. its-"fulcrum to .saidbraeketmnremberarfon; movement 1 a vertical plane; onel'sarm: or, rsaida:beil scrank lever. being 93 6 685113?ICOIMIECIIBd tOu-SaidLforcenapplying .mem-. benrand thez'othenarm oirsaidrbellcrank leverhavi grza oslot theneimat iitSn-OlltSI end-for re: ceiving said elugrzof:saidnmovableeblade; said bell cranlsl'lever; iorceapplying: member: andlug being so aconstructed-sandarranged :that said .ene..arm

WilIJbei substantially.nermaleto -the path:of verticahmovementzofi-sa-id force applying]. member and said other arm will besubstantiallynormal to-the path Eofi :mowementi ofnsaidwilugduring.closing and openingrofsaid lawn -shears-::.-

THOMAS! J CAVES.

Th'e' "following -ref ei ences flare" 'of: record" "in the file' ofthisipatentt UNITED STATES" PATENTS Number Names; Date.

756,227 Fisk .;Apr; v5,---l)ii4l 1,222,950 Heid'l .Apr. 17-. ltl'?1,275,307 Saile=,-- Aug.-13,- 1917 l,74,l,1f7-2 Huxm-an; Dec. 31, 19291,799,987; Carpente Mar. 3l,l931

